Valencia Paella & Tapas Home Cooking Class with Local Chef Jose

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Valencia, Spain

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

3 hours (approx.)
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Explore our promoted experiences

Valencia, Spain

Wine Tasting Experience in Valencia’s Old Town

from $42

Genuine Valencian tapas tour with a pinch of History

Valencia, Spain

4.9

(20)

Genuine Valencian tapas tour with a pinch of History

from $94

Price varies by group size

Coffee Tasting with a Professional in Valencia City Center

Valencia, Spain

5.0

(13)

Coffee Tasting with a Professional in Valencia City Center

from $93

Viator earns higher commissions on experiences featured here

Overview

It is said the best way to get the measure of a place is to spend time with local people, but meeting and greeting strangers on foreign shores isn’t always easy. During this afternoon or evening Valencian cooking experience, you will be warmly welcomed by your host Jose, a passionate Valencian chef trained at Michelin-starred restaurants into his home. After a refreshing sangria, learn to cook an authentic Valencian meal that includes tapas, a main and and dessert. Savor the home-cooked meal of traditional Valencian dishes as you learn about Valencian culture and food traditions from your host.

Cook with a local Valencian Michelin-trained chef in his home
Learn Valencian culinary tips and techniques
Experience the best of traditional Valencian hospitality
Savor a delicious lunch or dinner of Valencian specialty dishes

Sample Menu

Starter

Sangria

Starter

Tapas (choice of 2 out of 4):

Galician-style octopus, Iberian ham and tomato toast (pan tumaca), Salmorejo with tuna, corn toast with smoked sardines, cream cheese, and basil

Main

Paella

Traditional Valencian paella, arroz del senyoret (seafood paella), vegetarian paella (seasonal vegetables) or duck, mushroom, and asparagus paella

Dessert

Chufa de Horchata Mousse

A delightful mousse made from tiger nuts and topped with a Valencian pastry

Dessert

Cremaet, Valencian style rum and cinnamon infused coffee

What's Included

Private paella, sangria and tapas home cooking class
Authentic, home cooked Spanish meal
Alcoholic Beverages

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Art Modern Institute Museum of Valencia
C/ de Guillem de Castro, 118, Ciutat Vella, 46003 València, Valencia, Spain
Meet your host, Jose, at the entrance of the IVAM (Institut Valencià d'Art Modern, Address: C/ Guillem de Castro, 118, Valencia).

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Menu may vary depending on the season

If any travelers in your party have any allergies, dietary restrictions or cooking preferences please advise at time of booking
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Host's home is a second floor walk-up
For groups of 2-3, please book a lunch time experience, as dinner time experiences are available for groups of 4+.
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Joan_H

Every moment of this experience was fabulous! Jose is a wonderful gourmet chef as well as having a great personality! He immediately made us feel at home as we talked and helped create delicious tapas with a new twist. We loved making the traditional paella with him and enjoyed trying some new drinks and a delicious dessert that was a creative twist on horchata, a typical Valencian drink which he turned into mousse with chocolate shavings. I can’t recommend this experience highly enough. Jose is a star and cooking with him was the highlight of our week.

Reviews

5.0

based on 76 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Valencia on a Plate

Pat_L, Apr 2026

Jose was fun, funny, and engaging. He provided top-notch guidance while allowing us to prepare some the most delicious food and drinks we’d ever tasted…and then there was dessert!

Paella Cooking Class

Amy_D, Feb 2026

Chef Jose is not only an amazing chef, but he is personable, knowledgeable and so enthusiastic. We had an amazing time with him and learned a lot. Would highly recommend.

A 5 star experience with a super star chef!

Joan_H, Feb 2026

Paella Master Class

Kamilia_E, Sep 2025

I had the pleasure of attending Jose’s paella cooking class and it was an incredible experience. He took the time to explain each step with authentic techniques and how to utilise the right ingredients, making sure we understood not just how to cook paella, but why the little details matter. Jose’s passion and patience shone through the whole class, and his warm approach made us feel comfortable and engaged. The class was hands-on, fun, and full of tips that you’d never get from a recipe alone. Learning from someone so dedicated to preserving tradition made the experience truly worthwhile. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Highly recommended — Jose is an excellent teacher and this class is a must-do for anyone wanting an authentic taste of Spain.

We had a great time. Our...

Michelle_C, May 2025

We had a great time. Our chef, Jose was awesome. Took his time and explained things to us. Would highly recommend and the food was delicious!

A truly personal authentic food experience for foodies and those who want to saviour a memorable Spanish meal!

jbellaire1, May 2025

It was the best experience we had on our trip! We spent 4 hours with José in the comfort of his own home sharing his passion of many types food from Valencia, his cooking techniques and many fascinating stories about Spain and how food is such an important part of the culture. His dishes were par excellence..his soup was better than the one we enjoyed at a 3 Michelin star in Barcelona and the Paella truly authentic! We left feeling very full and satisfied over enjoying the afternoon with such a skillful chef! We are ready to make Paella when we get home! This experience are for those who enjoy good food, good company and want to truly learn authentic Spanish culture.

Response from Host, May 2025

Thank you so much for your heartfelt review. We are absolutely delighted to hear that your time with José was such a highlight of your trip. José is a truly passionate host who loves sharing the rich culinary traditions of Valencia, and it means so much to know that his dishes, and especially his paella, left such a lasting impression. We’re thrilled that you’re heading home inspired and ready to make your own paella. This is exactly what we hope for with every Traveling Spoon experience: authentic food, meaningful connection, and a deeper understanding of culture. Thank you for choosing to share your experience with us.

Great class!

Brittany_P, Mar 2025

Jose was fantastic and made the experience so fun for me and my 3 friends! The sangria he taught us to make was the best we had in Valencia!

Cooking paella w Jose !!!!

Patricia_M, Dec 2024

private cooking class with Jose where we learned SO much and made Sangria. , tapas Paella and dessert . This was SO amazing we absolutely recommend to everyone ! Well worth the money ! Jose is such a great HOST and it is worth twice the money he charges for all the time and effort he put in! A MUST DO in Valencia💚

Traditional Paella and Tapas in Valencia

Lisandra_M, Nov 2024

José is an excellent and very knowledgeable chef/host. We did learn several cooking tricks. It is an exceptional experience. Enjoy!!!

Memorable 5 star experience ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amy_B, Oct 2024

One of the best experiences we booked during our 16-day vacation through Spain and Portugal! My husband and I love to cook and entertain, so this is right up our alley… and with a Michelin trained chef made it so much more special. It is without a doubt that Jose loves what he does. Incredibly talented. The sangria, Galician octopus, paella… all incredibly delicious. He also taught us a little Valèncian history.

Five fabulous stars

Lisa_H, Oct 2024

We arrived as strangers and left as extremely satiated friends. A thoroughly enjoyable and informative day. Jose is a master in the kitchen and a fabulous teacher, bringing the food and culture of Valencia to life. We could not recommend highly enough.

Enjoyable and informative

Kerry_S, Oct 2024

Jose is a delightful and skilled ambassador for Valencian culture and cuisine. Jose is a very engaging and friendly host. We loved the way he used his home environment to share his knowledge, professional chef expertise, local stories and fabulous recipes. We very much appreciated that he consulted with us many days before on our preferences for the menu, and ran the session with just the two of us.

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Dear Kerry, Thank you so much for your heartfelt review! I’m absolutely thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful experience with Jose. He truly is a fantastic ambassador for Valencian culture and cuisine, and it warms my heart to know that his passion for cooking and sharing local stories resonated with you. I’m glad you appreciated the personalized touch of menu planning; we believe that tailoring the experience to our guests' preferences makes it even more special. This is why we offer private experiences with our hosts and I'm so glad you had a delightful and intimate cooking session! Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, and I hope to welcome you back for another culinary adventure in the future! Sincerely, Aashi

Fantastic experience!

Kat_L, Sep 2024

Loved our experience with Jose’! He is an exceptional chef and a great instructor. We made sangria, tapas, and a delicious paella. So much fun and the time flew by. He gave us his recipes and we can’t wait to try them on our own.

A special foodie experience

Lesley_P, Sep 2024

Going to Jose's paella experience was a foodies delight. Learning culinary skills and tales of Valencian foods were all part of a wonderful taste and cooking experience. Jose puts together a wonderfully thoughtful menu, he takes you through everystep and at the end provides you with a printout booklet of all the recipes to try at home.

A Truly Wonderful Time!

Damian_B, Sep 2024

Our time with Chef Jose was absolutely wonderful! We learned so much about how to make the perfect paella ~ but we also learned about Spanish culture (especially the Valencian culture) and the history of the area and of paella. Our tapas were very unique and oh so tasty! The sangrito (sangria with Chef Jose’s mojito twist) was a perfect accompaniment to the paella we cooked together, which was truly the highlight. Jose is a wonderful and patient teacher with a great sense of humor, and he truly made us feel at home. We have taken many cooking classes in different settings, but to have such an enjoyable and relaxing experience in Chef Jose’s home was simply the best part of our vacation in Spain. We highly recommend this experience!

Amazing experience, highly recommend!

Jana_I, Jul 2024

Had an amazing experience, highly recommend it to anyone interested in cooking and eating great food! It was our first time doing a cooking class and we were deciding between this or a larger group class and I'm very glad we chose this. Jose went above and beyond to make a truly educational and fun experience, the food and drink was delicious and we learned more about Valencian culture in an afternoon with him than we did in our other 3 days in the city.

Fantastic private cooking experience!!’

Todd, Jun 2024

Jose was fantastic. Met us at arranged location and walked to his apartment. He had everything ready for the experience. Was delightful and informative. We cooked, talked and then ate! Well worth the expense.